Point of View

In the standards…  ELA9RL1: a. Locates and analyzes such elements in fiction as language (i.e., diction, imagery, symbolism, figurative language), character development, setting and mood, point of view, foreshadowing, and irony.  ELA10RL1: a. Locates and analyzes such elements in fiction as language and style, character development, point of view, irony, and structures (i.e., chronological, in medias res, flashback, frame narrative).

Who’s telling the story?  An author writes a story.  A narrator is the voice telling the story.  A credible narrator is one that can be trusted.  An unreliable narrator is one that cannot be trusted.

What is point of view?  Point of view is the vantage point from Which a writer tells a story.  A writer tells a story through the voice of a narrator. A narrator may be an outside observer or a character in the story.  Everything you learn about characters, events, and places in a story depends on the narrator’s point of view.

Points of View  The three most common points of view are:  Omniscient  Third person limited  First person

Omniscient Point of View  In the omniscient point of view, the narrator plays no part in the story but can tell what ALL characters think and feel.  The omniscient narrator can:  tell as much or as little as the writer permits  may tell us what all—or only some—of the characters are thinking, feeling and observing  may comment on the story’s meaning, characters, or events

Omniscient Point of View Example John laughed hollowly. “You’re joking,” he said, wondering how on earth he would ever get over this. Veronica shook her head slowly. Her heart was breaking at having to tell him this news. John stood up and banged his fist against the wall, hard, once, but that did nothing to disperse the fury coursing through him. He still couldn’t believe it. “I’ll have to leave now,” he said, thinking that he couldn’t bear to stay there another moment. Veronica nodded slowly. He was upset now, but she knew he'd get over it.

Third Person Limited Point of View  In the third person limited point of view, the narrator plays NO part in the story but zooms in on the thoughts and feelings of one character.  The third person narrator:  views the actions from the vantage point of a single character.  can tell us only what that single character is thinking, feeling, and observing

Third Person Limited Point of View Example He saw her start up the hill, and he moved quickly behind the shelter of the huge old maple tree. If she saw him now, everything would be ruined, but if he could stay hidden until she came within range--well, then she'd have to talk to him. Wouldn't she?

First Person Point of View  In the first person point of view, the narrator IS a character in the story and tells the story using the first person pronoun “I”.  The first person narrator:  participates in the action of the story  can tell us only what he or she is thinking, feeling and observing  may or may not be objective, honest or clued into what’s going on in the story

First Person Point of View Example As I walked up the hill, I realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. There was no sound from the cardinal who was nearly always singing from the top of the maple tree. I thought I saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when I looked again it was gone. Still, I shuddered as I felt a silent threat pass over me like a cloud over the sun.

Why is Point of View Important?  The narrator’s point of view determines what and how much you learn about the story’s characters, events, and places.  It’s important to evaluate the credibility and knowledge of the narrator.  Ask yourself:  How much does this narrator know and understand?  How much does this narrator want me to know?  Can I trust this narrator?  How would this story be different if told by someone else?

Well-known Examples for Point of View  The Harry Potter series is written in third person limited point of view.  The Twilight series, for the most part, is written in first person point of view.  The Bible is written in omniscient point of view.

Tone  Tone is the writer’s attitude towards a subject or character.  Ex: She looked disgusting, standing there in her Prada boots and Cartier diamonds.

Voice  Voice is a writer’s distinct use of language and style.  Edgar Allan Poe’s writing always uses harder vocabulary and dark style.  Voice is best understood from reading experience.  Think of an author you’ve read a lot. What voice does that author have?

What is the tone of the sentences below?  It was a dark and stormy night.  It was a bright sunny day.  Ellen sat her books down by the grimy bus stop steps. The decrepit bus was running late again. It would be hot, with a whirling fan that circulated the stifling air and whatever odor was present.

Practice Examples  Purple/old literature book  “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote  “The Interlopers” by Saki  “Liberty” by Julia Alvarez  “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe